Trump’s Lawyer Argues Former President is Victim of Extortion in Hush Money Case
In a pivotal moment in Donald Trump's criminal trial, his lawyer portrayed him as a victim of blackmail by porn star Stormy Daniels, arguing that prosecutors have not substantiated claims that Trump concealed a hush money payment to her.
As the trial neared its conclusion, attorney Todd Blanche contended that Daniels sought to exploit the 2016 election to gain a financial advantage by threatening to reveal a past sexual encounter with Trump.
Blanche addressed the 12 jurors, asserting, "Daniels was leveraging the 2016 election to get paid." The jury is expected to begin deliberations as early as Wednesday.
During the trial, Daniels provided detailed testimony about a 2006 encounter with Trump, which he denies. Trump's defense team argued that the payment to Daniels was meant to spare his family from embarrassment, not to influence his campaign, contrary to prosecutors' claims.
Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Blanche urged the jurors to concentrate on the paperwork central to the case, rather than the sensational details. He argued that the prosecution failed to prove Trump illegally falsified documents to disguise the $130,000 payment to Daniels. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office asserts that the payment was an improper campaign contribution intended to keep voters uninformed about the alleged affair.
Prosecutors are set to summarize their evidence
later on Tuesday, needing to prove Trump’s guilt
"beyond a reasonable doubt." Justice Juan Merchan reminded the jurors that they alone are the judges of the case's facts.
A conviction would not bar Trump from running against President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election or from taking office if he wins. Opinion polls show a competitive race between the two.
Outside the courtroom, Biden supporters warned of potential threats to democracy and increased political violence if Trump were re-elected.
Actor Robert De Niro voiced concerns about Trump’s intentions, while pro-Trump demonstrators protested nearby.
Blanche challenged the credibility of key witnesses, including Daniels and Michael Cohen, who testified that he managed the payment and its cover-up at Trump’s direction. Cohen, who has a history of felony convictions and lying, claimed he paid Daniels $130,000 and was reimbursed by Trump under the guise of legal fees.
Blanche argued that there was no evidence Trump was aware of how these payments were recorded in company ledgers, emphasizing that the payments were reported to the IRS accurately. He questioned the notion of a cover-up, given the transparency of the transactions.
Prosecutors elevated the charges from misdemeanors to felonies by claiming Trump sought to cover up another crime, including unlawful campaign contributions and business record falsifications. If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison, though imprisonment is unlikely for a first-time offender in such cases.
Blanche maintained that no underlying crime was proven and defended Trump’s actions in working with tabloid publisher David Pecker to suppress damaging stories during the campaign.
Trump faces additional criminal charges in separate cases in Washington, Georgia, and Florida, related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified information. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming they are politically motivated attacks to hinder his presidential campaign.
Source: Reuters
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